Bioterrorism

Editor's Note: The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), where the research described was accomplished, was inadvertently omitted from the list of author affiliations in the 4th paragraph below; the article was updated Jul 1, 2004, to include this information.

(CIDRAP News) – The possibility of a smallpox outbreak highlights a key threat to America's public health system: What if a person needs a vaccine but there is no nurse to give the shot?

America's growing shortage of qualified public health workers could undermine terrorism preparedness, according to a recent report from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

Jan 14, 2003 (CIDRAP News) – The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) says the present is an excellent time for states to prepare for the next influenza pandemic and has issued a report to help show the way.

(CIDRAP News) – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today it will award a total of $849 million to states, territories, and four major cities in this year's package of public health preparedness grants.

(CIDRAP News) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a guidebook to help medical examiners and coroners detect and respond to bioterrorism.

(CIDRAP News) – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed shifting about $55 million in biodefense funds from ongoing state preparedness programs to several new programs, focusing largely on efforts in 21 major cities.

(CIDRAP News) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a final rule spelling out its procedures for detaining food suspected of being hazardous because of intentional or accidental contamination.

(CIDRAP News) – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week it is allocating $498 million for grants to states to help healthcare facilities improve their ability to cope with bioterrorist attacks and other emergencies that could cause many casualties.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Senate yesterday overwhelmingly passed "Project BioShield," a 10-year, $5.6 billion program to promote rapid development and use of drugs and vaccines to counter biological and chemical weapons.

(CIDRAP News) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday announced a reorganization plan designed to hone the agency's ability to respond to public health threats, including terrorism, as well as chronic health problems.